Landing big bass is 5 percent luck and 95 percent knowledge. There is a lot to learn about bass fishing, including knowing how to locate and tackle the prime bass fishing areas.
Many pro and recreational anglers expect to hook a bass as soon as they drop their lines into a new body of water. They wonder why the bass aren't striking, even though they haven't taken the time to familiarize themselves with the water, above and below the surface.
Finding the best bass fishing area is not a shot in the dark. You need to do a little homework to locate the bass and understand the water.
There are several important factors to keep in mind while searching for those sweet spots swimming with hungry bass:
1. Seasonal patterns will naturally affect the success of your fishing expedition. Know where bass travel after spawning, and how they naturally migrate throughout the season. Government resource ministries reflect the natural spawning patterns when they set bass seasons, and every responsible angler will respect their seasonal limits.
2. Have a sense of the season. Your successful bass fishing expedition is absolutely dependant on seasonal climate. Bass are most active in late fall, early spring and just after a cold front. Being able to determine when to fish is as important as knowing where to fish.
3. Know the depth of the water. This factor is naturally combined with the type of bass you're fishing, as well as other considerations such as lakebed materials, natural covers or nearby weed beds. You will find bass in shallow water, if there are sufficient natural covers in place. However, shallow water should be avoided on hot, sunny days. Knowing the depth of the water will also determine your choice of bait.
4. Avoid murky, swampy areas. Fish love clear water, because they need to live and breathe in it. Look for clean water and you'll be more likely to find fish.
5. Know the water temperature. If the water is too cold (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) the natural food chain will be affected. On the other hand, if it's too warm, the fish just won't bite.
6. Find sunken treasure. Bass love to seek shelter among submerged branches and structures. Look for trees that have fallen into the water, old building foundations and even boat docks. Some bass species love to hide out in rock beds and under ledges, so try those areas as well. If you can find a structure hidden beneath the surface of the water, you'll like be able to lure out a big bass.
7. Look for vegetation. Bass are predators, and will naturally stay close to their prey. Weed beds are filled with frogs, insects and other bass treats. Use live bait or choose a lure made for weed beds, such as plugs or small floating minnows. Anchor your boat near the edge of the weed bed and cast alongside the weeds. As the name suggests, the right tackle will "lure" a fish out of hiding.
8. Map out your territory. The ability to read a map is fundamentally important to your bass fishing success. Depending on where you fish, you may find prime fishing spots marked on maps available at local tackle shops. If you can't find the lake on a map, you'll never land the bass. Most serious anglers rely on two main types of lake maps, including hot spot and topographical maps. A topographical map shows the lake in more detail and includes rocks, variations in water depth and so on. Hot spot maps are drawn for the sole purpose of showing anglers where fish are located. Fish naturally migrate, of course, so a hot spot map should never be considered as a sure thing.
Knowing how to sector a map is the key to using it correctly. Study your map carefully and look for areas where fish are most likely to be found. Divide the map into sections with a colored pen or highlighter. An experienced angler will use the sections to determine where to fish, depending on the amount of time they have to spend on the water. The size of the sections can also vary depending on structures, contours and how many different areas will be fished. It's important to take your time, and don't give up too quickly on your chosen spot.
There is much more to being a consistent bass angler than just dropping your anchor and casting the line. That's what makes a bass tournament so competitive and exciting. You need to think like a bass and find the spots that other anglers have missed.
Pack these important tips into your tackle box before you head for the lake:
* Weed beds and other vegetation areas
* Shallow water adjacent to deeper areas
* Seek shoreline and lakebed contours
* Try your luck at shore points and point drops
* Human-made and natural structures
The key to locating bass is your understanding of the water. If you find a spot that you think is prime for bass, be patient. Bass can be stubborn and slow to strike, and it can take a lot of repetitive action to lure them out of hiding. Try several techniques and different types of bait. Before long, you'll establish a working pattern and land that big bass.
Many pro and recreational anglers expect to hook a bass as soon as they drop their lines into a new body of water. They wonder why the bass aren't striking, even though they haven't taken the time to familiarize themselves with the water, above and below the surface.
Finding the best bass fishing area is not a shot in the dark. You need to do a little homework to locate the bass and understand the water.
There are several important factors to keep in mind while searching for those sweet spots swimming with hungry bass:
1. Seasonal patterns will naturally affect the success of your fishing expedition. Know where bass travel after spawning, and how they naturally migrate throughout the season. Government resource ministries reflect the natural spawning patterns when they set bass seasons, and every responsible angler will respect their seasonal limits.
2. Have a sense of the season. Your successful bass fishing expedition is absolutely dependant on seasonal climate. Bass are most active in late fall, early spring and just after a cold front. Being able to determine when to fish is as important as knowing where to fish.
3. Know the depth of the water. This factor is naturally combined with the type of bass you're fishing, as well as other considerations such as lakebed materials, natural covers or nearby weed beds. You will find bass in shallow water, if there are sufficient natural covers in place. However, shallow water should be avoided on hot, sunny days. Knowing the depth of the water will also determine your choice of bait.
4. Avoid murky, swampy areas. Fish love clear water, because they need to live and breathe in it. Look for clean water and you'll be more likely to find fish.
5. Know the water temperature. If the water is too cold (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) the natural food chain will be affected. On the other hand, if it's too warm, the fish just won't bite.
6. Find sunken treasure. Bass love to seek shelter among submerged branches and structures. Look for trees that have fallen into the water, old building foundations and even boat docks. Some bass species love to hide out in rock beds and under ledges, so try those areas as well. If you can find a structure hidden beneath the surface of the water, you'll like be able to lure out a big bass.
7. Look for vegetation. Bass are predators, and will naturally stay close to their prey. Weed beds are filled with frogs, insects and other bass treats. Use live bait or choose a lure made for weed beds, such as plugs or small floating minnows. Anchor your boat near the edge of the weed bed and cast alongside the weeds. As the name suggests, the right tackle will "lure" a fish out of hiding.
8. Map out your territory. The ability to read a map is fundamentally important to your bass fishing success. Depending on where you fish, you may find prime fishing spots marked on maps available at local tackle shops. If you can't find the lake on a map, you'll never land the bass. Most serious anglers rely on two main types of lake maps, including hot spot and topographical maps. A topographical map shows the lake in more detail and includes rocks, variations in water depth and so on. Hot spot maps are drawn for the sole purpose of showing anglers where fish are located. Fish naturally migrate, of course, so a hot spot map should never be considered as a sure thing.
Knowing how to sector a map is the key to using it correctly. Study your map carefully and look for areas where fish are most likely to be found. Divide the map into sections with a colored pen or highlighter. An experienced angler will use the sections to determine where to fish, depending on the amount of time they have to spend on the water. The size of the sections can also vary depending on structures, contours and how many different areas will be fished. It's important to take your time, and don't give up too quickly on your chosen spot.
There is much more to being a consistent bass angler than just dropping your anchor and casting the line. That's what makes a bass tournament so competitive and exciting. You need to think like a bass and find the spots that other anglers have missed.
Pack these important tips into your tackle box before you head for the lake:
* Weed beds and other vegetation areas
* Shallow water adjacent to deeper areas
* Seek shoreline and lakebed contours
* Try your luck at shore points and point drops
* Human-made and natural structures
The key to locating bass is your understanding of the water. If you find a spot that you think is prime for bass, be patient. Bass can be stubborn and slow to strike, and it can take a lot of repetitive action to lure them out of hiding. Try several techniques and different types of bait. Before long, you'll establish a working pattern and land that big bass.
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